OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG PARA RUBBER TAPPERS IN SONGKHLA PROVINCE

Abstract

This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted to assess the occupational health risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among 298 para rubber tappers. The assessment utilized the Farmers Ergonomics Risk Assessment (FERA) tool to evaluate work posture-related ergonomic risks, the Musculoskeletal Severity and Frequency questionnaire (MSFQ) for self-assessment of symptom severity and frequency, and an occupational health risk assessment matrix for musculoskeletal disorders. The MSFQ results indicated that the highest level of discomfort was reported at the knees (16.11%), followed by the lower back (15.10%) and shoulders (8.73%). The FERA assessment showed that most farmers had work postures classified as very high risk (57.72%), followed by high risk (39.93%). The occupational health risk assessment for MSDs revealed that farmers were at a moderate risk level (60.07%), followed by very high risk (26.85%) and high risk (13.09%). Considering different body regions, the study found that farmers experienced musculoskeletal disorder risks at moderate levels or higher, with the highest risk identified in the lower back (54.03%), followed by the knees (53.69%) and shoulders (41.61%). The findings suggest the need for preventive measures, impact reduction strategies, and monitoring of MSDs among farmers by adjusting their working postures correctly and health promoting by muscles stretching, and exercise for MSDs prevention.